North-South Corridor project’s former chief hits out at infrastructure projects being 'politicised’

The former head of the state’s biggest project has criticised infrastructure ventures being “politicised” after she was sacked.

The former head of the state’s biggest project has criticised infrastructure ventures being “politicised”, after she was sacked.

Engineer Susana Fueyo Suarez last week abruptly left her role as executive director of the $9.9bn North-South Corridor project, which she had headed up for the past two years.

Sources said Ms Fueyo Suarez was a victim of a Transport Department review, which identified concerns with the project’s wider budget and timelines.

Ms Fueyo Suarez, whose online CV reveals her involvement in highly technically and complex projects for almost 25 years in Spain, Germany, Britain, Canada and Australia, refused to comment on Monday.

Susana Fueyo Suarez, executive director for the North-South Corridor Project speaks to former federal minister Paul Fletcher after a press conference to launch the development of the South Road tunnels in St Mary’s in February. Picture Emma Brasier

But revealing her departure to her LinkedIn followers at the weekend, she said she was proud of her work after she was appointed in June 2020.

“As dedicated professionals, it is extremely disappointing to see infrastructure projects and their much-needed solutions being politicised,” she wrote.

“Everybody with understanding of complex infrastructure projects knows that the outcomes we achieved are outstanding.

“We did it through collaboration and teamwork, technical analysis, and respectfully challenging ‘how things are done’ – not because it is an easy path, but because we want to find a better way and leave a legacy for future projects.”

Government sources said Ms Fueyo Suarez was an “independent” bureaucrat who was not a “political puppet” and had been instrumental in securing the project’s funding.

“Her role was created because the department did not trust it could be delivered by the people that were leading it,” one said.

The project’s boss was critical of the politics. Picture Emma Brasier

But others said senior people in the department weren’t involved in the project but Transport Minster Koutsantonis changed that and put them in charge.

Mr Koutsantonis was unapologetic for her dismissal.

“This is the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken by our State Government,” he said.

“We are unapologetic about doing the due diligence to get this right to minimise community impact and any unnecessary cost to the South Australian taxpayer.

“We want to improve the consultative process, which has been criticised by many impacted residents, and ensure they have every opportunity to be heard.”

Revealing his state government’s decision at the weekend to delay the Torrens to Darlington project, Mr Koutsantonis flagged design changes at two key sites along the 10.5km stretch of motorway.

The delay means works on the final section of the North-South Corridor will start in 2024, rather than next year.

It means completion date will be pushed back a year to 2031.

The Opposition is critical of the delays.

Opposition Leader David Speirs at the weekend said Labor needed the $1.1bn funding cut over four years to pay for expensive election promises.

Mr Koutsantonis has said the total cost of the project, the biggest in the state’s history, remained at $9.9bn.

Tom Koutsantonis has been critical of the project. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

North South Corridor plan near Glandore. Picture: Supplied

But instead of $4.3bn being spent over the next four years, $3.2bn would be spent.

The Minister opposes two expensive elevated works, at Anzac Hwy and at West Hindmarsh, adjacent to the Brickworks.

Both of those have been controversial with communities, some of whom live in his local electorate.